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1710831638business Communicative - Unit - 4 PDF

Personal grooming involves taking care of one's body and appearance, including hygiene, dressing, and etiquette, which significantly impacts self-confidence and how others perceive an individual. It is crucial in professional settings, especially in corporate and hospitality sectors, where personal grooming and etiquette can influence success and relationships. Key elements include maintaining personal hygiene, dressing appropriately, and adhering to workplace etiquette to create a positive impression.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
62 views19 pages

1710831638business Communicative - Unit - 4 PDF

Personal grooming involves taking care of one's body and appearance, including hygiene, dressing, and etiquette, which significantly impacts self-confidence and how others perceive an individual. It is crucial in professional settings, especially in corporate and hospitality sectors, where personal grooming and etiquette can influence success and relationships. Key elements include maintaining personal hygiene, dressing appropriately, and adhering to workplace etiquette to create a positive impression.

Uploaded by

hhsmbaspce
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

What Is Personal

Grooming and Its


Importance?
Personal grooming is the term for how people take care of their body
and appearance. Habits that are considered personal grooming include
bathing, dressing, applying make-up, hair removal, and taking care of
one's teeth and skin. A person's personal grooming routine may
determine how he or she feels about themselves, and how other
people perceive him or her.

One of the most important aspects of personal grooming is bathing


regularly. While bathing, a soap product should be used to clean the
body. Hair should be cleansed using a shampoo, and a hair
conditioner may be applied.
Hair should be kept clean and combed daily. Regular haircuts usually
keep hair healthy and in good condition. Hair can be styled in many
different ways using a variety of different styling products.

A woman with groomed eyebrows and lashes.


After a bath or shower, many people take care of their skin and teeth.
Skin care typically consists of using products designed to clean,
exfoliate, moisturize, and improve the appearance of the skin. Taking
care of one's teeth generally involves a flossing and brushing the teeth
using toothpaste. Mouthwash may also be used. Some people opt to
use a toothpaste that has whitening properties in order to brighten the
color of the teeth.
Dress for the job you want, not for the job you have” is the common piece of advice scattered around
the internet when you search for professional grooming tips. But why is it so important when the
internet also states that one should dress up for themselves and not others, henceforth contradicting
its own statement? Because grooming and dressing up rather has so much to do with how you feel
about yourself and how confident you are. It is a common understanding that confidence matters just
as much as intelligence or skills for getting ahead in life. By being confident, you project an image that
everyone wants to be a part of, and that ability to appeal to people is a highly useful skill.
What is the need for grooming and
etiquette?
Personal grooming is a must in any career path especially, in the
corporate and hospitality sectors. It is an essential part of corporate
etiquette. Most professions are all about personality, enthusiasm,
charisma, and caring nature. Most jobs are highly demanding and skills
are not enough to endure this competitive world. In conclusion,
everyone does something they mustn't do "judging a book by its cover".
So, it is likely to feel a little intimidated when not groomed properly.
Do not panic, here are some tips that might help you look professionally
groomed.
There are three basic elements of personal grooming and etiquette
1. Personal hygiene
2. Dressing neatly
3. Manners and business etiquette

i. Personal hygiene
Personal hygiene is the most important aspect of personal grooming
and etiquette. Some tips to maintain your personal hygiene are as
follows:
 If you are not clean and smell no one will want to be near you.
 Ensure body odour is fresh, clean, and pleasant by showering
and using cologne if necessary.
 Maintain healthy teeth and fresh breath by brushing every day.
 Your nails should be clean, neatly trimmed, and shaped.
ii. Dressing neatly

Dressing professionally is an essential part of good business etiquette.


Here are some tips on making sure that you are dressed properly
 Dress for the audience and the occasion.
 For the vast majority of positions, this will mean a smart,
conservative suit, however, it is better to do prior research.
 Make sure you do not have wrinkled clothes, or worse, stained
ones.
 Pay attention to details such as polishing your shoes.
 If you wear glasses, make sure to clean the lenses.
 Women should wear light make-up and keep jewellery to a
minimum.
iii. Manners and business etiquette

People who don’t follow business etiquette frequently make a poor


impression and this may decrease their chances for success. There is
some basic workplace etiquette that one must follow. A few of these
are as follows,

 Neatly trim facial hair.


 Wear light perfume or cologne.
 Don’t smoke or eat candies and chewing gums inside the office.
 If you color your hair, maintain it properly and try opting for
neutral colors.
 It is suggested to cover the tattoos if you have any.

Impact of managing your personal


grooming and etiquette well
Professional grooming has always been an important factor in
achieving considerable confidence which further helps in effective
communication. Personal grooming and etiquette are all about
presenting yourself in the best possible way, by focusing on personal
hygiene and cleanliness. The way you treat the work environment and
more importantly, how you treat yourself speaks volumes about who
you are and what your ethics are.
People who maintain the highest levels of neatness and are well-
groomed appear to be very well-organized in their work and they
maintain a high degree of neatness in their desks. A well-groomed
person always makes a positive impact on others. On the contrary,
if you aren’t groomed properly, it may create an impact that if you
cannot take proper care of yourself, how could you possibly take
care of the business? Grooming is important not only to look good
and presentable but also to feel confident. Following these tips will
help you in making a good first impression and enhance corporate
relations`

Etiquettes
It is essential for an individual to behave in a responsible manner
acceptable to the society. People around us must not feel embarrassed
by our behaviour. One should not behave irrationally or illogically in
public.

What is Etiquette?
Etiquette in simpler words is defined as good behaviour which
distinguishes human beings from animals.

Human Being is a social animal and it is really important for him to


behave in an appropriate way. Etiquette refers to behaving in a
socially responsible way.
Etiquette refers to guidelines which control the way a responsible
individual should behave in the society.

Need for Etiquette


 Etiquette makes you a cultured individual who leaves his
mark wherever he goes.
 Etiquette teaches you the way to talk, walk and most
importantly behave in the society.
 Etiquette is essential for an everlasting first impression. The
way you interact with your superiors, parents, fellow
workers, friends speak a lot about your personality and up-
bringing.
 Etiquette enables the individuals to earn respect and
appreciation in the society. No one would feel like talking
to a person who does not know how to speak or behave in
the society. Etiquette inculcates a feeling of trust and
loyalty in the individuals. One becomes more responsible
and mature. Etiquette helps individuals to value
relationships.
Types of Etiquette
1. Social Etiquette- Social etiquette is important for an
individual as it teaches him how to behave in the society.
2. Bathroom Etiquette- Bathroom etiquette refers to the set of
rules which an individual needs to follow while using public
restrooms or office toilets. Make sure you leave the restroom
clean and tidy for the other person.
3. Corporate Etiquette- Corporate Etiquette refers to how an
individual should behave while he is at work. Each one
needs to maintain the decorum of the organization. Don’t
loiter around unnecessary or peep into other’s cubicles.
4. Wedding Etiquette- Wedding is a special event in every
one’s life. Individuals should ensure they behave sensibly at
weddings. Never be late to weddings or drink uncontrollably.
5. Meeting Etiquette- Meeting Etiquette refers to styles one
need to adopt when he is attending any meeting, seminar,
presentation and so on. Listen to what the other person has to
say. Never enter meeting room without a notepad and pen. It
is important to jot down important points for future
reference.
6. Telephone Etiquette- It is essential to learn how one should
interact with the other person over the phone. Telephone
etiquette refers to the way an individual should speak on the
phone. Never put the other person on long holds. Make sure
you greet the other person. Take care of your pitch and tone.
7. Eating Etiquette- Individuals must follow certain decorum
while eating in public. Don’t make noise while eating. One
should not leave the table unless and until everyone has
finished eating.
8. Business Etiquette- Business Etiquette includes ways to
conduct a certain business. Don’t ever cheat customers. It is
simply unethical.
Corporate Etiquette - Do’s and Don’ts
It is essential for every individual to behave in a socially acceptable
way.

Etiquette refers to good manners which help an individual leave his


mark in the society.

An individual must know how to behave at the workplace. There is a


huge difference between college and professional life. One needs to
be disciplined at the workplace.

Corporate Etiquette refers to set of rules an individual must


follow while he is at work. One must respect his organization and
maintain the decorum of the place.

Corporate Etiquette refers to behaving sensibly and appropriately at


the workplace to create an everlasting impression. No one would take
you seriously if you do not behave well at the workplace. Remember
we can’t behave the same way at work place as we behave at our
homes. One needs to be professional and organized.

It is important to behave well at the workplace to earn respect and


appreciation.

Let us go through some Do’s and Don’ts at workplace:

 Never adopt a casual attitude at work. Your office pays


you for your hard work and not for loitering around.
 Don’t peep into other’s cubicles and workstations.
Knock before entering anyone’s cabin. Respect each other’s
privacy.
 Put your hand phone in the silent or vibrating mode at
the workplace. Loud ring tones are totally unprofessional
and also disturb other people.
 Don’t open anyone else’s notepads registers or files
without his permission.
 It is bad manners to sneeze or cough in public without
covering your mouth. Use a handkerchief or tissue for the
same.
 Popping chewing gums in front of co-workers is simply not
expected out of a professional.
 Stay away from nasty politics at the workplace. Avoid
playing blame games.
 Keep your workstation clean and tidy. Throw unwanted
paper in dustbin and keep files in their respective drawers.
Put a label on top of each file to avoid unnecessary
searching.
 Never criticize or make fun of any of your colleagues.
Remember fighting leads to no solution. There are several
other ways to express displeasure. Sit with your colleagues,
discuss issues face to face and decide on something which
is mutually acceptable.
 Take care of your pitch and tone at the workplace.
Never shout on anyone or use foul words. It is
unprofessional to lash out at others under pressure. Stay
calm and think rationally.
 Never attend meetings or seminars without a notepad
and pen. It is little tough to remember each and everything
discussed in the meeting. Jot down the important points for
future reference. Wait for your turn to speak.
 Pass on information to all related recipients in the
desired form. Communicate through written modes of
communication preferably through emails. Keep your
reporting boss in the loop. Make sure your email signatures
are correct.
 Reach office on time. One must adhere to the guidelines
and policies of the organization. Discipline must be
maintained at the workplace.
 No organization likes to have a shabbily dressed
employee. Shave daily and do not use strong perfumes.
 Never wear revealing clothes to work. Body piercing and
tattoo are a strict no at the workplace. Females should avoid
wearing heavy jewellery to work.
 Don’t pass lewd comments to any of your fellow workers.
 While having lunch together, do not start till the others
have received their food. Make sure your spoon and fork
do not make a clattering sound. Eat slowly to avoid burping
in public.
 Respect your fellow workers and help them whenever
required.
 It is unethical to share confidential data with external
parties and any other individual who is not related to the
organization. Data in any form must not be passed to
anyone outside the organization.
 Office Stationery is meant to be used only at work. Taking
any office property back home is equivalent to stealing.
 Make sure you turn off the monitor while you go out for
lunch or tea breaks. Switch off the fans, lights, printer, fax
machine, scanner before you leave for the day.
 Don’t bring your personal work to office. Avoid taking kids
to office unless and until there is an emergency.
 Park your car at the space allocated to you. Don’t Park
your vehicle at the entrance as it might obstruct someone’s
way.
 Never ever drink while you are at work. Smoke only at
the smoking zones.
 Do not leave the restroom with taps on.
 Female Employees should stick to minimal make up.
Clothing Etiquette/Dress Code
Etiquette helps human beings to behave in a socially responsible way.
Etiquette helps you gain respect, trust and appreciation from others.

There is a huge difference between an individual’s college and


professional life. One needs to follow a proper dress code at the
workplace for the desired impact.

It is essential to dress appropriately at the workplace for an


everlasting impression. Individuals who dress shabbily are never
taken seriously at work.
One must dress as per the occasion. Avoid wearing jeans, capris,
shorts, T - Shirts or sleeveless dresses to work. Follow a
professional dress code. Make sure you feel comfortable in whatever
you wear. It is not always necessary to wear expensive clothes rather
wear something which looks good on you.

Choose professional colours like black, blue, brown, grey for


official attire. Bright colours look out of place in corporates. Light
and subtle colours exude elegance and professionalism and look best
in offices.
Make sure your clothes are clean and ironed. One should never go
shabbily dressed to work. Prefer wrinkle free clothes.

Hair should be neatly combed and kept short. Spikes hairstyle looks
good only in parties and informal get together. Females should tie
their hair. It gives a neat look.

Male Employees
 Male employees ideally should combine a simple shirt with
trousers. Make sure the colours are well coordinated. Prefer
a light colour shirt with a dark trouser and vice a versa. Do
not wear designer shirts to work. Prefer plain cotton or
linen wrinkle free shirts in neutral colours. Go for brands
like Zodiac, Arrow, Color plus, Louis Philippe, Allen Solly
etc. These brands offer good collection of formal office
shirts.
 The shirt should be properly tucked into the trouser for
the professional look. Prefer full sleeves shirts at
workplace. Never roll up your sleeves.
 Silk ties look best on professionals. Don’t go for designer
ties. The tie should neither be too short nor too long. The
tip of the tie ideally should touch the bottom of the belt
buckle. Slim ties are not meant for offices.
 Wear leather belts to work preferably in black or brown
shades. Do not wear belts with flashy and broad buckles.
 Socks must be well coordinated with the outfit.
 Don’t wear shoes that make noise while walking. Prefer
soft leather shoes in black or brown colour. Make sure your
shoes are polished and laces properly tied. Never wear
sports shoes or sneakers to work.
 Shave daily. Use a good after shave lotion and make sure
your skin does not look dry and flaky.
 Body odour is a big turn off. One must always smell good
in public. Use a mild perfume or deodorant.
Female Employees
 Females should not wear revealing clothes to work.
Avoid wearing outfits which expose much of your body
parts. Wear clothes which fit you best. Don’t wear too tight
or loose clothes.
 Understand the basic difference between a party wear and
office attire. Never wear low neck blouses to work. Blouses
with deep back or noodle straps are a strict no no at the
workplace. Avoid transparent saris.
 Females who prefer westerns can opt for light coloured
shirts with dark well fitted trousers. A scarf makes you look
elegant.
 Never wear heavy jewellery to work. Avoid being a
makeup box. Nude make up does wonders. Nails should be
trimmed and prefer natural shades for nail paint.
 Avoid wearing sharp pointed heels to work.
 The colour of the handbag must coordinate with the outfit.
 Eyebrow, naval, lip piercing must be avoided at the
workplace.
Interacting with Co-Workers
It is essential for an individual to behave in a socially acceptable way.
Etiquette helps an individual to be different and stand apart from the
crowd.

One needs to be serious and a little sensible at the workplace. An


individual can’t behave the same way at office as he behaves at home.
People who lack etiquette are never taken seriously by their fellow
workers.

An individual all alone finds it difficult to survive at the workplace.


One needs to be a good team player to make his mark at the
workplace. He needs to interact with his fellow workers and share
ideas to reach to better solutions. Employees must work in unison for
faster and effective results. It is essential to maintain healthy
relationships with fellow workers as an individual spends his
maximum time at the workplace.
Respect your fellow workers. Misbehaving with colleagues spoils
the ambience and leads to negativity all around. Treat all co workers
as one irrespective of their race, caste, nationality, designation etc.

Spreading baseless rumours about fellow workers is something


which is not at all expected out of a professional. Spotting any of
your colleagues with his girlfriend has nothing to do with office and
thus must not be discussed at the workplace. Avoid playing blame
games in organization. An individual should have enough guts to
accept his/her mistakes. If you do not like someone, it is better to
ignore the other person rather than fighting with him. Remember
conflicts lead to no solution.
Be cordial to all. Greet everyone with a smile. It is bad manners to
make faces at others. Learn to be a little more adjusting. Things don’t
always go your way. Do not take things to heart.

Help your colleagues in whatever way you can. Never give them
any wrong suggestions. You will like your job more if you have a
friend at the workplace.

Be polite to your fellow workers. If someone shouts on you, never


shout back on him. Don’t do what others do. You will not become
small if you say “sorry”.

Too much of friendship at the workplace is bad. Being emotional


at work is harmful. The other person might take undue advantage of
your generous attitude.
Never overreact. It pays to be calm and composed at the workplace.

Avoid taking sides at the workplace. Don’t ask for personal favours
from any of your fellow workers. Never ask anyone to do grocery
shopping on your behalf or pick your son from school. It is
unprofessional.

Avoid being rude to anyone. You never know when you might need
any of your fellow workers. Never lash out at others under pressure.
Never interfere in your colleague’s work. It is bad manners to open
anyone else’s envelopes or check fellow worker’s emails. Respect
your colleague’s privacy. Do not peep into anyone else’s cubicles.
Knock before entering your boss’s cabin.

Never make fun of any one at the workplace.

It is bad manners to overhear anyone else’s conversation.


Avoid criticizing others. One needs to be flexible at the workplace.
Being rigid spoils relationships.

Conversations and small talk


at official gathering
What Is Small Talk
Small talk is light, informal conversation. It’s commonly used when
you’re talking to someone you don’t know very well and at
networking and social events.

How to Make Small Talk


There are four strategies that’ll help you make small talk in any
situation.
First, ask open-ended questions. Most people enjoy talking about
themselves -- not only are we are our favourite subjects, but it’s also
easier to discuss yourself than something you know little about. Think
about it: Would you have a harder time speaking about 14th century
glass-blowing or your favourite book? Open-ended questions generate
an interesting, dynamic conversation and encourage the person you’re
speaking with to open up.
Second, practice active listening. It’s tempting to tune out
occasionally, but you’ll forge much stronger connections if you pay
attention. The other person will notice how engaged you seem. In
addition, it’s much easier to ask relevant questions and remember
details to bring up later if you’re not listening with one ear.
Third, put away your phone. We tend to pull out our phones when
we’re feeling uncomfortable or awkward in social situations, but
nothing will sabotage your conversational efforts more quickly. Few
people will approach you if you’re scrolling through your phone --
and you’ll send a plain message to anyone you’re already talking to
that you’re not interested.
Fourth, show your enthusiasm. Small talk might not always be the
most stress-free activity. However, if you go into it with the right
attitude, you can actually have fun. View these conversations as
opportunities to learn more about other people. You never know
whom you’ll meet or what they’ll have to share -- so embrace the
chance it’ll be an amazing discussion.
Having good small talk topics up your sleeve won’t just help you kick
off great conversations, it’ll also relieve some of the anxiety of
walking into an unknown environment.
1. The location or the venue
Discuss your surroundings. Are you in a beautiful hotel, home, or
conference area? Is the town noteworthy? Did you recently visit
somewhere cool nearby?
2. Entertainment
Talk about what you’ve enjoyed lately and what’s on your list. That
might include the Netflix show either of you are binge-watching, the
last movie each of you saw, the books you’re reading, the podcasts
you’re streaming, any plays you’ve attended, and so on.
3. Art
If the person you’re speaking to enjoys art, ask them which museums
they’ve gone to and would like to visit, their favorite exhibits, which
artists they enjoy, if they have any recommendations for galleries,
which genre and medium of art they prefer, how their interest
developed, and so on.
You can also discuss changes in the art world. Are there any new
trends developing they’re interested in (like “post-internet art”)? What
are their thoughts?
4. Food
Food is one of the best small talk topics, since almost everyone loves
to eat. Ask which restaurants they’d recommend and the dishes you
should order. If they don’t eat out often, ask which dishes they like to
make at home. Describe an upcoming scenario and get their opinion
on what you should cook or bring. For example, “I’m responsible for
dessert for a housewarming party. There are 10 people coming -- two
vegans, one person with a nut allergy, and another who doesn’t eat
gluten. What would you suggest?”
5. Hobbies
Delve into the other person’s passions. They’ll be enthusiastic to talk
about what they love, and you’ll get the chance to connect with them
on a deeper level.
Ask what they do in their free time, which activities they participate
in outside of work (and how they became involved), what their
childhood hobbies were versus now, whether they’re taking any
classes, and what they’d like to try (sushi-making, novel-writing,
salsa dancing, etc.).
6. Work
Talking about your day jobs can be tricky. You don’t want the
conversation to devolve into a boring comparison of what you do --
which it quickly will unless you steer toward more interesting
territory.
On the other hand, work is a good small talk topic because the vast
majority of people have something to say.
Instead of asking generic questions like, “Where do you work?”
“How long have you worked there?” and “Do you like it?”, use
interesting, unexpected ones such as:
 “My [niece/son/grandchild] wants to become a [profession]. Do
you have any advice I should pass on?”
 “What's your favourite aspect of your job? Why did you decide
to work in [X field]?”
 “Many of my clients in [X role] tell me [Y detail about job]. Has
that held true in your experience?”
7. Sports
Some people could talk about sports all day. Others would rather talk
about anything but. There are a few rules of thumb for discussing
sports.
First, if you’re in a group of two-plus people, make sure everyone is a
sports fan. You don’t want to exclude someone from participating.
Second, while an enthusiastic conversation is fun, a heated one won’t
help your networking goals whatsoever. If you or the other person
starts getting riled up, change the topic.
8. The weather
Weather is the ultimate small talk topic. It’s typically not the most
scintillating conversation-starter, but with a little creativity you can
spark some engaging discussions.
Ask about the other person’s plans given the weather (for example, if
it’s rainy are they going to stay at home and watch movies? If it’s
sunny, are they going to have a BBQ, do something outdoorsy, go on
a hike, eat dinner on their patio, etc.?)
You can also discuss their favourite type of climate and why they like
it. This frequently turns into a discussion about their personality,
which can be fun and interesting.
Get them talking about the climate in their hometown. Is it different
from where they live now? The same? Which type do they enjoy
more? If they could choose to live anywhere based solely on the
weather conditions, where would it be?
Seasonal rituals and traditions are handy conversation-starters as well.
Do they do anything special this time of year? Are there any places
they visit, trips they take, people they see, or other activities they do?
9. Travel
Not everyone you speak with will be a world traveller, but asking if
they've travelled anywhere interesting lately can open up a world of
possibilities. From weekend trips an hour away, to big summer
vacations, or bucket list journeys -- this question can get even the
most reserved prospects gushing about cherished memories or
exciting upcoming adventures.
Make sure you have some follow-up questions around what they plan
to do on their trip. What foods they're most excited to try. And what
souvenirs they're planning to bring home.
10. Their local favourites
HubSpot Director of Sales Dan Tyre has a trick every rep can use.
Before a call with a prospect, he Googles their town. Often, the
people he's speaking with live in towns Dan's never visited, but with a
two-minute search, he knows about their hottest new restaurant, what
the weather is like currently, and which landmarks the locals love.
He uses this knowledge to wow his prospects with questions like,
"Have you made it to [Insert hot new local play here] yet?" or "Are
you staying cool over there? I hear it's going to be in the 90's this
week." This extra step puts the prospect at ease, shows them Dan
cares about what they care about, and builds immediate rapport.

How to Get Better at Small Talk


It doesn’t matter how bad you are at small talk: With practice and the
right strategies, you can improve. Small talk is a skill just like any
other.
1. Look for opportunities to make small talk.
The more frequently you do it, the more comfortable you’ll become.
You’ll also quickly learn which topics generate the best
conversations, how to gauge a person’s mood and personality by their
body language and tone of voice, when to pivot to new topics, and the
signs a conversation has wrapped up.
To reduce your nervousness, practice your small talk in a low-stakes
environment. Go to a casual networking event for a different industry,
attend a meetup, or ask your friends to bring you along to their work
events.
You can also “train” by talking to strangers when you’re out and
about -- just make sure you don’t force a conversation with anyone
who’s clearly not interested.
2. Pretend you’re speaking to a friend.
Would you be on edge if you were making small talk with someone
you knew really well? Probably not. If you need a quick trick to
mitigate your anxiety, pretend the other person is a good friend. As an
added benefit, this mental shift will make you seem warmer and
friendlier.
3. Give yourself a break.
Don’t dwell on awkward moments or long silences. We’re all far
more focused on and critical of ourselves than anyone else in the
room. You might be cringing for days after you mess up someone’s
name or crack a joke that falls flat, but chances are, every other
person will forget within two minutes.
Next time you’re worried about a specific faux pas, remind yourself
it’s nowhere near as big a deal as you think.
4. Set a goal.
Having an objective can make small talk feel more meaningful. For
example, maybe you commit to meeting four people at an event, or
exchanging contact information with two other professionals in your
field.
Once you’ve gotten a concrete goal, you’ll feel purposeful and
focused. This also allows you to objectively measure your success.

Avoiding Small Talk


It might seem silly to write an extended post about small talk -- and
then delve into tactics for avoiding it.
But let's be clear. This isn't a guide to steering clear of conversations
at networking events, office parties, conferences, or social gatherings.
If you want to do that, I have a simple suggestion: Stay home!
Of course, that's usually not a feasible strategy if you want to forge
new connections (and since forging new connections tends to go
hand-in-hand with career growth, I highly recommend doing it
occasionally).
Avoiding small talk = avoiding boring, trite, meaningless, forgettable
conversations that don't add value to you or the other participants.
If you want to do that, here are a few suggestions. (By the way,
avoiding small talk is one of my continual goals in life.)
First, be curious. The person or people you're talking to
are interesting. Chances are, they know a whole lot about something
you know something about -- if not many things. Take advantage of
that. Figure out what they care about and ask lots of questions. Don't
forget to listen and stay engaged so it's clear you're not just going
through the motions.
Second, pose unique questions and start non-obvious discussions. If
you say something like, "It's so cold this week," you're going to have
a meh conversation (unless you're talking to a farmer or
meteorologist, maybe). Get creative and maybe a little weird. When
someone says, "Wow, it's so cold this week," reply, "Sure is. Did you
grow up in a warmer area?" Now you're talking about their childhood
and the different places they've lived. Way more interesting.
Third, avoid ultra-controversial or sensitive topics. These include:
1. Politics
2. Physical appearance
3. Religion
4. Age
5. Anything PG-13 and up
Whether you love making small talk or wish you never had to do it,
these tips, conversation starters, and questions will help you get the
most from it. Good luck out there.

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